Feed apparatus



Aug. 27, 1968 c EF ET AL 3,398,473

FEED APPARATUS I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1966 Fl. 6. l

FIG. 3

mm W mRmw W E WF fl EHW P E ST mmm WA 8 DRL EFA u 7, 1968 E. c. PFEFFER, JR.. ET AL 3,393,473

' FEED APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EDWARD C. PFEFFER JR. FRANCIS H. HUGHES ALBERT E. WAGAR United States Patent FEED APPARATUS Edward C. Pfetfer, Jr., and Francis H. Hughes, Troy, and Albert E. Wagar, Albany, N.Y., assignors to Cluett, gealfiody & Co., Inc., Troy, N.Y., a corporation of New Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,296 3 Claims. (Cl. 3810) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to a feed apparatus improvement. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for feeding of material to, for example, a pressing machine.

The present invention has a variety of beneficial features. One feature of the invention is that it allows for optimum use of floor space. Another feature is that, when used in conjunction with a fabric pressing machine, application of steam or vacuum through the press bed is facilitated. A further feature is that the invention encourages uniform pressing action while allowing multiple trays to be easily brought to one pressing level.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved feed apparatus.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method for feeding material to a pressing machine.

It is known in the prior art to use multiple bucks or pressing heads whereby multiple stations are provided which allow pressing or ironing at one station, while simultaneously handling or positioning at other stations as is shown, for example, in United States Patent No.

1,010,696. As is noted, for example, in United States Patent No. 2,280,288 the object of such machines is to enable operation by a single operator at a single station, thus allowing the machine to be more efiiciently utilized. The present invention has such more efiicient utilization as its principal objective. It is known also to use wire gauze trays for moving articles into and out of position between pressing members in pressing machines. For example, United States Patent No. 2,050,612 shows multiple trays on which articles are laid and thereafter moved into registry with pressing heads.

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, the present invention comprises the features hereinafter described and particularly set out in the claims, the description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments show some of the many ways in which the principles of this invention may be employed. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, for example, in a pressing machine, material to be pressed is laid on a tray which includes a rigid U-frame carrying a preferably porous working surface connected to the frame by "ice springs, the tray moving in a horizontal plane. A second like tray moves in a separate horizontal plane. The two trays are operatively connected so that they oscillate; that is, when one tray is moved into the pressing position, the other tray moves into a loading position and vice versa.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a detail of chain connection;

FIGURE 3 is a detail of a typical tray construction; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic wiring diagram for a traypress arrangement.

FIGURE 1 shows, in phantom representation, a pressing machine including an upper buck 10 and a lower buck 11. The figure shows also a frame designated generally as 12 which rests on the floor. The frame may be bolted to the floor or braced against the pressing machine. The frame includes uprights 13 and 14 which carry a set of parallel rods 15 and 16. The rods extend along one side of the pressing machine from the back of the press bucks to a distance of about four feet in front of the press. The rods are in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the lower press buck or press bed 11. A first tray 20 is slidably attached to rod 15 through a first bearing means 21. A second tray 22 is slidably mounted on rod 16 through second bearing means 23. The bearings 21 and 23 may typically be comprised of a metal block having a through hole in which the respective rods are disposed and a second hole normal to the through hole. This second hole normal to the through hole in the bearing block allows the tray to be swingably mounted in the block so that it may be tilted when it reaches the near end of rod 15 adjacent post 13 which acts as a stop. In brief, the tilting makes for ease of loading of the tray by the operator.

The second tray 22 is shown in FIGURE 1 to be in registry with the lower press buck or press bed 11 when the first tray 20 is positioned in its forward loading position. The second tray is mounted in the same way as tray 20 except that it is on rod 16 which occupies a level a few inches below rod 15. Both rods are slightly above the lower press buck 11. The two trays may slide in relation to each other on their respective rods which are located in generally parallel planes. Typically, a similar rod arrangement (not shown) is used on the opposite side of the press to provide additional support and stability to the trays.

As mentioned above, the trays are swingably mounted on the bearings 21 and 23 so that they can be tilted when they reach the near end of rods adjacent stop 13. The tray construction will be described in more detail heremafter; but one feature of the tray construction is that the tray swings up into a load position because of its weight distribution. The tilting allows the trays to be loaded and unloaded with less arm extension on the part of the operator and cuts down on operator fatigue. All points on the tilted tray are readily accessible to the average operator with no bending being required. The inclined plane of the surface makes loading easier also because in the placement of fabric parts, the force of gravity tends to remove surface irregularities enabling the pieces to lay..flat,and, .face..to he,.moved to yarioushorizontal positions without thus eliminate the necessity of smoothing by the operator. When the tray is swung to a horizontal position and pushed toward the press a fraction of an inch a roller 25 shown on tray engages a guide rail 26 which keeps the tray horizontal until it again returns to the loading position. A similar roller and guide arrangement shown as and 26' allows the other tray to be tilted as is tray 20.

The two trays are operatively connected by means of a chain 80 which allows control of the sliding position of the trays in relation to each other. The chain is in two sections, one section extends from bearing 21 around an idler sprocket 27 located at the far end of the rodsand is then connected to hearing 23. The second section of the chain is similarly connected and rides around idler sprocket 28 located at the near end of the rods.

Because of the chain connection, when tray 22 is in registry with the press bed, tray 20 is in front of the press where it can be tilted and loaded. When tray 20 is moved toward the press bucks, tray 22 must then move out of registry with the press bucks and toward the operator who is standing in front of the press. Therefore, the operator need only handle one tray at a time as described below.

A typical operation would begin with tray 20 in a tilted position, as shown, in front of the operator. The operator would load tray 20 with the items to be pressed. He would then put the tray down to a horizontal position and shove the tray away from him and toward the press. At this point, the upper press buck is in a raised position as is shown in the figure. The tray 22 containing the material which has been pressed is caused to move forward and out of registry with the lower press buck due to the chain connection between the two trays. When the trays pass each other in their movement, the operator grasps the frame of tray 22 and draws it toward himself. As the tray 20 now moves into registry with the press buck, tray 22 trips a microswitch 30, which causes the upper press buck to come down and press the material on tray 20. The pressing time is thereafter controlled by an automatic timer (not shown) while the upper press buck is down. Tray 22 tilts and the operator removes the pressed items. After this, new items are put on the tilted tray and the cycle is repeated, this time with tray 20 tripping microswitch 30.

FIGURE 2 shows a detail of how the chain might be fastened to the bearing blocks 21 and 23. It has been found preferable to attach each portion of the chain to the blocks through a spring 41. The spring attachment arrangement might incorporate also a spring tension adjusting means.

As has been noted above, an important aspect of this invention is that the trays, though supported in different horizontal planes, allow work to be carried to the press bed. The reason that this can be done is that the working surfaces of the trays are yieldably mounted. This aspect is pointed out by FIGURE 3 which shows a typical tray. The tray includes a rigid U-shaped frame 50. The working surface 51 of the tray is made of a suitable material such as, for example, woven high temperature-resistant nylon fiber or asbestos cloth. The figure also shows how much of the tray structure is clamped between the press bucks, the press buck 10 being shown in phantom lines.

The material forming the working surface is preferably flexible to conform to the surfaces of the press bucks and is carried by rods on three sides. These rods are designated as 52, 53, and 54. The material is folded over upon itself a few inches and is sewn along seams 55 so that an opening is made through which the rods can be inserted. Cut-outs 56 are provided which assist in attachment of the material to the rods. The attachment is through spring means 57 which may typically consist of coil springs similar to those used in trampolines. A plurality of such spring are located about the U-frame 50. An alternative to the springs might be, for example, elastomeric bands. The effect of the above is to allow the tray working surmovement of the rigid frame 50. The operation of the upper press buck, in closing, urges the working surface of the trays down against the lower press buck. This allows the ,common pressing machine buck to be used and obviates the necessity of complex mechanical means.

An iinportantfeature of the tray working surface is that it maybe of a poronsnature. Of course, it is apparent that non-porous traysv might also be utilized in instances where the benefits accompanying porosity were not a determinative consideration. It has-been found preferable in pressing such things as shirt fronts to use a tray working surface of a porous material such as woven Nornex nylon fibers which exhibit good dimensional stability at high temperatures. The porous nature of the tray allows steam and/ or vacuum to be applied to the material which is being pressed. Since the material, once having been pressed, is open to the atmosphere on all sides, the work cools rapidly and is easy for the operator to handle. Additionally, the pressed plies canbe more readily removed from the trays due to the flexible nature of the tray surface, that is, when the operator attempts to pick up the pressed part the fact that the tray is flexible allows him to depress the tray and get a fingerunder the fabric part.

. .Guide rollers 25 previously described in reference to FIGURE 1 are shown on either side of the frame 150. The tray travels on bearing blocks designated as 21 and the rollers which engage the guide rail and keep the tray in a horizontal position. The rigid frame is connected to either bearing block by means of short axles 59 which ride in holes drilled into the bearing blocks. For ease of motion of the tray, the axles and the holes in the blocks may be fitted with ball bearings. 7

Adjustable stops 60 serve to allow the angle of tilt of the tray to be varied. The stop may typically comprise a rubber covered roller which bears against frame 12. The tray is slightly off balance and so without a stop of some sort, it would tilt into a vertical position.

The operation of the trays in relation to the press is further illustrated in FIGURE 4. The microswitches 30 and 30' are activated by pressure of the trays against the switches. As is seen from the figure, when one of the switches'closes, the closing activates the time delay switch 70 and also the valve 71. The action of the valve in turn closes the press. The timer then de-energizes the valve and the press opens. Closing of either switch will cause the cycle to start again.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific apparatus, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that a wide variety of changes may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, certain features of the apparatus may be used independently of others and equivalents may be substituted for the apparatus and method steps, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim: 1 I

1. In combination with a pressing machine, said machine having an upper buck and a lower buck, a pair of movable trays, said trays being so connected to each other that movement of one of said trays toward the pressing machine causes movement of the other of .said trays in a direction away from the pressing machine, and each of said trays having a rigid frame, a separate working surface-and elastic means connecting the working surface to the frame; first guide means carrying one of said pair of trays; second guide means carrying the other of said pair of trays, both of said guide means being so arranged with respect to the' lower buck and to each other as to carry each of said trays into and out of registry with said lower buck in a separate, generally horizontal plane and each of said guide means being so constructed as to allow one of said pair of trays to be tilted when the other of said pair of trays is generally in registry with said lower buck; whereby the working surface of either one of said pair of trays may be urged into contact with said lower buck by the action of said upper buck when the one of said trays is in registry with said lower buck and without movement of the rigid frame from its horizontal position in respect to said lower buck.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the working surface of each of said trays is flexible and porous.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means attached to said apparatus for closing said pressing machine when one of said trays comes into registry with said lower buck.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1926 Braun 3810 5/1927 Ledbetter 3810 10/1928 Braun 38-10 7/1930 Braun 3810 11/1930 Schremp et al. 38-10 8/1936 Johnson 3810 10 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

